All cars › Polestar 4 vs BMW iX3Head to head · Updated October 2026

Polestar 4 vs BMW iX3Which is cheaper to run?

Over 5 years the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor works out about $9,928 cheaper to own than the BMW iX3 40, counting price, charging, servicing and tyres. Charging mostly at home in NSW and driving 250 km a week costs about $16.60 a week for the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor and $14.54 for the BMW iX3 40. The BMW iX3 40 goes further on a charge: 635 km claimed versus 610 km.

Polestar 4
610 kmMid-size SUVClaimed range94 kWh battery4.84 m long
BMW iX3
635 kmMid-size luxury SUVClaimed range82.6 kWh battery4.78 m long

Side by side

Comparing the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor and BMW iX3 40. Better figure in green. Charging assumes 250 km a week, 90% at home.

Polestar 4 Long Range Single MotorBMW iX3 40
Price$78,500+ on-roads$89,900+ on-roads
Claimed range610 km635 km
Battery94 kWh82.6 kWh
Energy use17.7 kWh/100 km15.5 kWh/100 km
Length4.84 m4.78 m
Charging per week (NSW)$16.60$14.54
Servicing per year$350$200
Tyres per year$631$594
Home charger (one-off)$2,000$2,000
Full charge at home13 hours12 hours
Max fast charge200 kW300 kW
Warranty5 yrs / unlimited km5 yrs / unlimited km
5-year cost to own$93,723$103,651
What do "on the road" and "cost to own" mean?

Before on-road costs (+ on-roads): the car's list price only. You pay extra government charges and dealer fees on top when you buy.

On-road costs: stamp duty, first year's registration, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, number plates and the dealer's delivery fee. They usually add $3,000–6,000 depending on the car and your state. Where a price is "before on-roads" we add about $4,000. See stamp duty and rego by state.

Drive-away: a price that already includes the on-road costs, so it's what you actually pay to drive the car home.

On the road price: the drive-away price, or the list price plus our on-road estimate.

Cost to own: everything you'd spend over the years you keep the car (5 unless you change it): the on the road price, plus a home wall charger for EVs (about $2,000, one-off), plus charging or fuel, scheduled servicing and tyres for every year. Divide it by the number of weeks to see what the car really costs you each week.

Not included: yearly rego renewals and insurance after the first year, finance interest, and what the car is worth when you sell it. These vary too much by person and car to estimate fairly, and resale value is the biggest unknown, especially for newer brands.

Compare with your own numbers

Weekly charging cost by state

250 km a week, mostly charged at home, on each state's 2026–27 default electricity rate.

StatePolestar 4BMW iX3
NSW$16.60$14.54
Victoria$14.41$12.62
Queensland$14.25$12.48
South Australia$19.78$17.33
WA$16.36$14.33
Tasmania$12.97$11.36
ACT$17.83$15.62
NT$15.08$13.21

Common questions

Is the Polestar 4 or BMW iX3 cheaper to own?

The Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor is about $9,928 cheaper to own over 5 years. This counts the price, charging mostly at home, scheduled servicing and tyres, driving 250 km a week in NSW.

Which is cheaper to charge, the Polestar 4 or BMW iX3?

In NSW, charging mostly at home, the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor costs about $16.60 a week and the BMW iX3 40 about $14.54 for 250 km of driving.

Which has more range, the Polestar 4 or BMW iX3?

The BMW iX3 40 has a claimed range of 635 km, versus 610 km. Expect less at highway speeds.

Which is bigger, the Polestar 4 or BMW iX3?

The Polestar 4 is 4.84 m long and the BMW iX3 is 4.78 m long.

More comparisons

How we work it out, and our sources

Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at October 2026; check with the dealer.

  • Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
  • Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
  • Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
  • Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
  • Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
  • Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.